Marlborough named among world’s Smart21 communities of 2016

Marlborough, MASS. October 22, 2015 – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) has named the City of Marlborough among the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2016. Marlborough and San Diego, California are the only U.S. cities among the select group of global honorees, which includes communities from Canada, Taiwan, Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden.The Intelligent Community Forum is a global network of cities and regions with a mission to help communities use information and communications technology (ICT) to create inclusive prosperity, to tackle social and governance challenges and to enrich their quality of life.

The Smart21 Communities of 2016 were chosen based on six Intelligent Community Indicators, including broadband, knowledge workforce, innovation, digital equality, sustainability, and advocacy. Together these indicators help to determine a community’s competitiveness and success in the broadband economy.

This year’s award program theme, From Revolution to Renaissance, focuses on how Intelligent Communities plan their future at a time when the economy, the environment and the patterns of urban and rural life are undergoing dramatic change.

“I’m thrilled Marlborough has been identified as a Smart21 community,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant. “This recognition cements what we know about Marlborough: we have an incredible skilled workforce and innovative leadership that makes our City one of the economic engines in the Commonwealth. I’m proud of the way our business community and City government work together to make Marlborough such a great place to call home.”

MEDC Executive Director, Tim Cummings, stated “this is an incredible honor for Marlborough, and a testament to the great work that is being done here. The city is an embodiment of this year’s award theme, because it has gone through tremendous changes in the past few years and is now witnessing an economic renaissance, largely driven by innovation and smart economic development.”

The Smart21 are now in contention for the Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year, and will ultimately be competing for the designation of 2016 Intelligent Community of the Year, which will be announced in June 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information on the ICF award program and announcement, go here.

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About MEDC:
The Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is the state chartered economic development corporation for the City of Marlborough, MA and represents a public-private partnership for planning. MEDC works with municipal and private investors to foster economic development, job growth and community revitalization and development.For a complete overview of MEDC, visit www.MarlboroughEDC.com.